Influence: an explosion of awesomeness
Bravo. Touchstone Theatre's world premiere of Influence demonstrates phenomenal ensemble work. All elements of the production - writing, acting, direction, and design - come together to create a show that is expansive, witty, intelligent, and moving.
The foundation for the play's success is Janet Munsil's sharp and resplendent writing. The play is set in the British Museum during the early days of the Industrial Revolution, a time in which the Empire has been appropriating art from abroad and displaying it at home. In the showcase room for the Elgin Marbles (part of the remains of the Parthenon), the earnest young poet John Yeats and his blustery mentor Benjamin Hayden unexpectedly meet three disguised Grecian gods. The playfulness of the conceit (gods manifesting as mortals) quickly gives way to an exploration of deeper themes of artistic appropriation, inspiration/influence, technology, and immortality.
All of Munsil's characters contain elements of divinity and humanity; the gods can be petty, the mortals can be inspired. The characters switch quickly between these extremes and the strength of the cast is evident in their ability to easily negotiate these rapid tonal changes. Donald Adams (Hephaestus), Daniel Arnold (John Keats), Mike Stack (Benjamin Robert Hayden), Colleen Wheeler (Athena), and Frank Zotter (Apollo) are all to be commended for their technical skill and emotional depth. Without their humanity and humor, the show might have stumbled under the weight of its own ambition.
The trap of a "smart" play is that it can become too academic and cerebral. Influence does not fall into that trap. The warmth and frailty of the characters transforms these iconic figures into accessible people. The writing contains an enormous amount of humor and pathos and director Katrina Dunn takes advantage of every opportunity to make the play resonate emotionally.
On the night I attended, there was a group of teenagers in the audience. If you know anything about teenagers, you know that they are a tough crowd that can smell insincerity from a mile away. They cheered wildly at the curtain call: a testament to the production's ability to stay firmly and authentically connected to its audience.
The combination of extraordinary efforts on all production fronts has made this play more than the sum of its parts. The set (David Roberts) is a gorgeous demonstration of efficiency and grandeur. The sound design (Owen Belton) – virtually a character in itself – blurs the boundary between the mortal and immortal realms. In addition to illuminating the text, Dunn demonstrates her technical chops by creating flawless in-the-round staging.
A comment from a teenager after the show sums everything up perfectly: "It was like an explosion of awesomeness in my brain." Totally.
Influence by Janet Munsil; Directed by Katrina Dunn; Produced by Touchstone Theatre; Performance Works, Vancouver, November 6-15